The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed that an ATR-42 aircraft belonging to the service crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State on Monday.
The aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos when the accident occurred near the Naval Base in Igbokoda. The NAF said it immediately activated search and rescue operations in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies.
Earlier, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft, identified by tail number NGR 931, at about 9:13am. He later confirmed that the wreckage had been located near the naval base and that 25 passengers and seven crew members were believed to have been on board.
President Bola Tinubu subsequently expressed condolences to the families of the 25 passengers and seven crew members and directed the Nigerian Air Force to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash.
AFP reported that Tinubu confirmed all 32 people on board had died, making the crash one of Nigeria’s deadliest military aviation accidents in recent years.
The crash occurred in a swampy area close to the river, with local witnesses reporting debris around the site. Authorities have not yet disclosed the identities of those who died or the cause of the crash.
The NAF said further information would be released as the investigation and recovery efforts continue.
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